Silver Creek discusses curriculum, future plans

October 19, 2012

SILVER CREEK - Future plans and goals were on the agenda for discussion at a recent Silver Creek Board of Education workshop.

Superintendent Daniel Ljiljanich first led a presentation on Comprehensive District Education Plans.

The major highlight was to have teachers create a sequence map of lesson plans so the district can track what is being taught by grade and subject.

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OBSERVER Photo by Nicole GuginoSilver Creek Superintendent Daniel Ljiljanich explained new Comprehensive District Education Plans (CDEP) and gave impressions from meetings at a recent board of education workshop.

Ljiljanich explained each teacher has a folder of lesson plans, but nothing to share with others to tell them about it.

He said sequence maps would allow other teachers, principals or the board to look at the map and know what is taught and when in each class and compare it to what else is being taught.

He said this basic "skeleton" the teachers are compiling by December will help the district later when converting to the Common Core State Standard curriculum.

He explained this work and the common core lesson plans will not be a wasted effort and will help the school make the common core shift for next school year.

Ljiljanich also recommended the district create a curriculum council to oversee small changes in the curriculum and bring larger changes to the board of education.

He also presented on what he has taken away from meetings with individuals in the district.

He said many people said they are proud of the relationships with parents and the community, the districts capital project updates, student's respectful attitudes and the compassionate staff.

Areas needing more attention which were mentioned were setting the bar high for students and providing them with the best opportunities, retention of qualified teachers and more utilization of Parent Portal.

Another item Ljiljanich wanted to include was a school hall of fame to add to the recently created athletic hall of fame.

He said this would honor graduates who have made an impact in their field of study or community. He said this would send a message of honoring academics as much as athletics.

"I think that sends a really good complementary message to having an athletic hall of fame. ... I really love athletics but that shouldn't be the primary focus. It should be academics first. ... Everything that we do we sends a message," he added.

In other business:

The board approved the contract for the school resource officer for 10 hours per week to begin Nov. 15 instead of Oct. 11 as was previously stated in the contract. Ljiljanich said the village board approved the contract at its meeting and the school is looking forward to the SRO getting into the classroom and creating positive relationships with students.

The board retroactively authorized a contract for consultant and transition services from David Kurzawa from July 1 to Sept. 30. Ljiljanich said Kurzawa was instrumental in his transition and especially with negotiating the teachers' contract.

The board approved a resolution increasing BOCES participation for $28,550. Ljiljanich said the district's cost after BOCES aid will be $5,500.

The board appointed Ray Oberst as modified wrestling coach.

The board awarded the food service contract to Personal Touch, the only bidder, with no changes from last year's contract with the district.